Double knit terry fabric with sculptural design

Details Double knit terry fabric with sculptural design Double knit terry fabric with sculptural design

2001-01-29

2001-11-27

Worrell, Danny (Department: 3765)

Textiles: knitting

Independent-needle machines

Circular

C066S194000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06321574

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present inventions relates generally to the field of knitted fabrics and methods for constructing knitted fabrics. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-colored, sculpted, knitted terry fabric and a method for making the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ornamental terry knit fabrics are known in the art. In general, ornamental terry knit fabrics use pile yarns of different colors to form patterns or designs in the fabric. Patterns or designs are formed by alternately making loops with one pile yarn and then another. Ornamentation for terry knit fabrics has been limited, in the past, to relatively simple striped or checked patterns or relatively simple repeating patterns.
Accordingly, there is a need for a new method for producing terry knit fabrics that can be used to produce complex, non-repeating designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of forming sculpted designs in a terry fabric using a circular double knitting machine having cylinder and dial needles. A ground layer is formed with at least first and second sets of yarns by the dial needles. A plurality of pile loops, that collectively form a sculpted design, are formed in the fabric by selectively actuating the cylinder needles to selectively engage the first and second yarns to form the pile loops during the knitting process. Latches on the cylinder needles are opened by engaging the latches with a latch opener, to enable the cylinder needles to engage the yarns. The latch opener is moveable between an engaged and nonengaged position, and is biased toward the engaged position. A hold down bar may be used to hold the fabric down as the cylinder needles are actuated.
By selectively actuating the cylinder needles, regions in the knitted sculpted terry fabric may be formed having no pile loops, pile loops formed from the first yarn, pile loops formed from the second yarn, and/or pile loops formed from both the first and second yarns. The yarns may be different colors. The cylinder needles may be selectively actuated under the control of a programmable controller, and the design created by the various regions of pile loops may be nonrepeating.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2241901 (1941-05-01), Davis
patent: 3631690 (1972-01-01), Findlay et al.
patent: 3834190 (1974-09-01), Kuhn
patent: 3990268 (1976-11-01), Smith
patent: 4043151 (1977-08-01), Schmidt
patent: 4702091 (1987-10-01), Good et al.
patent: 4726400 (1988-02-01), Heiman
patent: 4843653 (1989-07-01), Coble
patent: 5186025 (1993-02-01), Neher
patent: 5823012 (1998-10-01), Hacskkaylo
patent: 6199409 (2001-03-01), Shibata

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Double knit terry fabric with sculptural design does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Double knit terry fabric with sculptural design, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Double knit terry fabric with sculptural design will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2608305